The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-04-13
LOOKS LIKE PERRY.
INFORMAL SENATORIAL CAUCUS.
Perry 81, BlOxham 3O-votes for
Finley. Milton and Others.
Disinterested Opinion on the Present
Status of BlOxham.
He Should Bach His Denial BY Producing HIS Cor
respondence NTH Jones Proceedings
In the Legislature.

Things are getting better. Gov. Drew
arrived to-day. besides number of other
/ gentlemen of note. Bloxham received a
telegram to-day from Jones saying that
Dougherty had arrived i'm jacksonville,
| would make an affidavit and would
reach Tallahassee tonight. just what
this means is doubtful, but l am told it
is intended To influence to-night's caucus.
| A prominent lawyer from another city.
! not Interested in the result save as a
| citizen, at the request of THE PALATK,
News correspondent. gives the following
resume of the legal aspect of the case a.
| il now stands:
AN OPINION ON THE AFFIDAvTTS-
''As the evidence now stands a strong
ease has been made out against Jones.
| but not against Bloxham. Drew or Mann
| These swear that Jones made a certain
statement to them. Jones denies this
under oath. There being two witnesses
| against one, granting that all are unim-
peachabie, the statement of the two
must. in accordance with the rules of
evidence. be believed before that of the
ham offered an inducement To Jones for
Jones to support him stands without
proof. In addition to Bloxham pub
lished denial. he is entitled to that which
the law secures to the accused in all
cases, viz: The benefit of the presump-
ton of innocence. But in the attitude
in which Governor BlOxham stands
toward the public as a candidate for one
of the highest offices i'll the Republic, he
can not be content to rely upon sym
pathy upon the presumption which
holds that every man innocent till proven
guilty; he must go further if the facts
coincide with the presumptions. Ii is
within his power to prove his innocence.
He doubtless has copies of all writings
he has ever transmitted to Jones i'm re-
gard to the Senatorship. Let him pro-
duce them and give them to the public.
accompanied by the affidavit that they
comprise all that have PASSED; nothing
appearing therein to compromise him,
he will stand fully acquitted. The Leg
islature should have this proof before
going into the matter of the Senator
ship, with Bloxham as a candidate.
He has denied the existence of any
bargain or understanding between him
and Jones, but although Jones has de-
MED, he should net, with the means
therefor in his own possession, rest con-
tent without fortifying the denial by
such proofs. Starkie, on Evidence, says
If, on the suppOsition that charge or
claim is unfouuded, the party against
whom it is made has evidence within
his reach by which he may repel that
which is offered to his prejudice, his
omission to do so supplies a strong pre-
sumption that the charge or claim is
well founded. 1t would be contrary to
all experience of human conduct to form
any other conclusion" 1t would seem,
therefore, that Gov. Bloxham's advisers
should urge him tn produce all the writ
ing between himself and Jones, and
thus fortify his denial. failing which.
notwithstanding the doubtful character
of Jones, the evidence of a bargain as
detailed by Drew and Mann (whose tes-
timony must be received instead of
Jones unsupported deniaD Bloxham
must labor under the presumption that
the charge of the existence of a bargain
made by Jones to Drew and Mann is we'll
founded.
The above opinion appears to be- the
clearest and most fair statement of the
situation at this writing obtainable.
LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS.
The business in the Senate and House
to-day was unimportant. MIR. Kinds
bill for the inspection and regulation of
the sale of fertilizers was ordered
printed.
The contest from Dade was again post
pOned until tomorrow in committee.
In the Senate Mr.. Williams introduced
resolution to print four hundred copies
of the report of the committee of the last
session to investigate the Okeechobee
Drainage. Also a resolution fer a COM
mittee to report what land grant rail
roads have failed to comply with their
grants.
Mr.. Martin introduced a bill to pre-
vent bribery and corruption at elections.
Mr.. Fowler introduced a bill tn com
pei railroads to furnish first-class cars %
negroes who pay first-class fares; also a
bill To confer police power ON passenger
conductors.
Mr.. Delano offered a resolution invit-
ing officials of railroad cOmpa nies to ap
pear before the Joint Committee on Rail
road Commission and give their views.
JONES FIICKERs.
Jones has written letter to the Com
mittee to investigate the missing section
declining To appear aud stating that
he had no information on the subject
besides that which has appeared in print.
Judge o. A. Wright is arranging TO
handle Villa Mitchell. and says he does
not propose to mix in the late printing
matter. CHOATE.
special 10 the Palatka News.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. April IA joint
informal caucus. eighty-three members
present, was held this evening. Senator
Wall nominated Ex-Governor Bloxham
and found a second in Mr.. Robinson. Of
Orange. Mr. Hicks. of Franklin. nomi-
mated Governor Perry. The nomination
was seconded by Senator Mann. All the
speeches were brief.
On the first ballot Perry had 32,
Bloxham "a. Finley 8, William Miller 3.
Mallory 1, blank 8.
On the second ballot Perry had "a.
BloxhAm 30, Finley 3. Miller ), Mallory
4, blank ), scattering f.
Bits of talk among the members show